Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Of Birds and Bees · Author: Cathleen · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 727
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-25 00:11:58
Story within a story. On the Quest, Pippin tells of a time he
embarrassed Merry. It's very funny and cute.
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Title: Pennies for a Sunny Day · Author: Cathleen · Times: Late Third
Age: The Shire · ID: 728
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-25 00:21:08
This is a very cute story of little Pippin, who is just full of mischief
and energy. I like his imaginative turn of mind, and the way he
automatically assumes that his idea of fun is everyone's! And the idea
of pennies for a sunny day is darling.
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Title: Great Auntie Pringle Took · Author: Cathleen · Races: Hobbits:
Incomplete · ID: 994
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-25 00:22:58
Great Auntie Pringle is a very unique OC. I love her eccentricitiies,
and the way the other hobbits talk about them. She certainly makes a
stir wherever she goes!
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Title: What Goes Around Comes Around · Author: Cathleen · Times: The
Great Years: The Fellowship · ID: 726
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-25 00:27:28
It's always fun to hear embarassing childhood stories about our favorite
characters--and this fic has them in abundance!
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Title: Dinnertime Folly · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Humor · ID: 733
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-25 00:29:41
Another cute story of childhood anecdotes. I like the way Boromir eggs
the hobbits on, and the author's nod to another of my favorite writers.
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Title: Nan Elmoth · Author: Robinka · Genres: Romance: Poetry · ID: 249
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-08-25 00:50:07
The wedding night of Melian and Thingol is written with sensuality and
great tenderness. I liked the image of her skin shimmering in the
darkeness and the almost frantic eagerness of his movements. A short
note about Melian and Thingol would give the poem a context for readers
unfamiliar with the early history of MiddleEarth (like this one--I admit
that I didn't know who they were and had to look them up in the
Encyclopedia of Arda). A very effective piece.
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Title: Gaiety in Gondor · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 563
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-08-25 01:53:17
Raksha demonstrates her talent for humor and clever dialogue in this
inspired response to the "Twenty Gay Gondorians" Yule challenge at
Henneth Annun. When Aragorn laments the lack of gaiety at court, Faramir
recruits some suitably gay men to liven up the festivities. Distant
(very distant) cousin Pongohil, an indiscriminate flirt, probably didn't
get invited to many family gatherings when Denethor was around! The line
[Stop him! Gimli will kill him!] made me snort with laughter. But even
Faramir is surprised when Gimli and Legolas take to the dance floor.

[An Elf and a Dwarf? Is such a thing possible?]

he asks Aragorn. Evidently, Faramir hasn't read much fanfiction! A very
amusing fic.
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Title: Swan Dance · Author: Rhapsody · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 797
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 01:57:52
I like the image of kinship being forged by a literal mingling of blood,
rather than the more metaphorical sharing of kindred bloodlines.
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Title: Thirsty · Author: Elfhild · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 319
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 01:58:11
In the fine tradition of vampires and dangerous liaisons, Thuringwethil
proves once again that she cannot be trusted, and that all love is
merely lust in the end. It begins in her, and returns to her, and gives
nothing back to the lover, who is consumed for her own ends. Of his
ends, we do not know, nor does Thuringwethil care.
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Title: The Parting Gift · Author: Imhiriel · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 948
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 01:58:24
Ah, the origin of Elrond's harp gets a story. I liked the way speech and
silence were portrayed--Maglor, with his great poetic and musical
talent, unable to find the words to say farewell, allows the work of his
hands to speak for him down the years when he will not be there.
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Title: Great Heart · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: First Age and
Prior: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 64
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 01:58:37
I'm not much of a dog person, but this seems to capture a dog's
perspective to me. Little Huan, never one to turn down a challenge nor
allow adversity to prevent him attaining his goal, will indeed do great
things.
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Title: First Anarchist · Author: Robinka · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 316
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 02:01:30
Imagining Melkor as the first kid to be yelled at to "turn that music
*down*!" is hysterical, although the line about turning the lights out
when the music is done is both chilling and an excellent reference.
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Title: Web of Friendship · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Hobbits: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 932
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-08-25 02:07:47
Aww, very sweet! And a nice transformation of the ugly spider back into
a gathering of cheeful Arachnes.
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Title: Red River · Author: Altariel · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Gondor · ID: 82
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-25 06:22:58
A bittersweet Fourth Age look at the effects of Gondor's victory on its
former foes.

Faramir and Aragorn are in character, 25 years older and somewhat wiser.
The young Southron prince is an interesting character; taking on some
characteristics of those who defeated his father's generation, while
seeking an end to the unequal balance of trade that is damaging his people.

And Faramir and Aragorn are still playing chess, with much the same outcome.

Excellent writing, as usual from this restrained but eloquent writer.
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Title: A Merry Old Inn · Author: Dreamflower · Times: Late Third Age ·
ID: 881
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-25 06:35:08
A charming tale of a hobbit's stay at the Prancing Pony in Bree; i.e. a
stopover by Bilbo and company en route to the Lonely Mountain.

Bree, and the Inn, are deftly conjured and written with good,
atmospheric details.

I loved Bilbo's getting drunk, singing, and then having a dream which
inspires his writing of the song Frodo will later sing in the same Inn.
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Title: Arwen's Heart · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance · ID: 139
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-08-25 18:00:52
This story has some really interesting scenes. The author captures
adolescent Estel really well and also hints at the anger he must have
felt at being deceived so much. Arwen's calculating nature and calm
acceptance of her fate were also drawn well. We don't know much about
her personality from canon, but I would expect this from what we know
about her parents. All in all an interesting read.
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Title: Home At Last · Author: Dreamflower · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 883
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-08-25 19:18:23
Nice gapfiller. It hows very well the Hobbit's general opinion of
"Adventures" and the "queer" people who undertake them. Bilbo's
loneliness and his feeling of being ["out of place"] is depicted
excellently.
I'm glad Drogo at least was friendly and interested - it seems this is
where Frodo inherits some of his character traits.

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Title: Just Desserts · Author: Lindelea · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond ·
ID: 161
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-08-25 19:20:27
A gripping story; with a great cast of characters that is skilfully
handled, each one distinct and believable. A satisfying and just
conclusion to Jack's tale. Once more the Hobbits shine with their
unerring sense of justice.
I do have some quibbles (e.g. sometimes confusing order of events), but
they didn't lessen my enjoyment.
And I very much hope to read soon the full tale of Farry Took's journey
in the footsteps of his father.
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Title: Planning Ahead · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men · ID: 84
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-08-25 19:21:01
Delightful, original story of how Arathorn and Gilraen might have met.
Both protagonists come clearly alive: Arathorn in "gruff-Ranger"-mode
and Gilraen the pert, perceptive child, having so much faith in her
foresight (["I promise I'll grow up as fast as I can,"]. It's funny and
touching how helpless Arathorn is against this determined ["mite"].

-----------------------------------
Title: Lay of Lord and Lady · Author: Vana Tuivana · Genres: Drama:
Poetry · ID: 629
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-08-25 19:22:56
The contrasts are employed very clever, both directly in descriptions,
and symbolically. The rhyme scheme is not constricting but actually
helps to draw the readers into the narrative. The pacing is quick,
fitting to the strong, gripping rhythm.

The beginning of their love and the end of it are both depicted
believably and moving, e.g. in this stanzas:

["Fair was the Lord, though dark was his vale,
And the Lady he loved for her light;
And great were his woods, and wondrous his delves,
And he taught her the beauty of night."]

["Proud was the Lord, and proud was his son,
And proud was the Lady fair;
And nor would they bend, and nor would they break,
But that her brother ruled there."]

The end of the poem, with its contrast/comparison to the beginning, is
an excellent touch.
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Title: Ships Passing · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Vignette · ID: 302
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-08-26 02:06:35
A very touching story.It is so sad that Faramir and Halbarad never had
chance to know one another.I am sure they could have been friends.You
portray Faramir's grief very well.There must indeed have been times when
he wondered if he wanted to live but I'm sure that changed when his
fortunes did.
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Title: Truly Exposed · Author: Marta · Races: Elves: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 689
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-26 03:11:13
I'm always intrigued by the occasional fanfic presentation of the wise
and grave Celeborn as Galadriel's romantic lover. This drabble conveys
the lord of the Galadhrim as both graceful and sensual in a quiet way.
His and Galadriel's love for each other is still palpably real after
millenia - conveyed subtly and easily in only a hundred years..
-----------------------------------
Title: Lost · Author: Radbooks · Times: Late Third Age · ID: 260
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-26 03:19:13
A very original vignette, with Aragorn meeting a character who does not
usually inspire sympathy. Here, we see an unpleasant LOTR character
during a childhood that could well have bleak, since he was different
from many of his peers and probably suffered for it.

Interesting idea that is effectively translated into a haunting encounter.
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Title: Old Man Willow · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 859
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-26 03:29:06
A lovely vignette chronicling Legolas' confrontation with Old Man
Willow. This is a ficlet where I really feel that Legolas is an Elf, a
being both like and quite different than a human being, and his affinity
with trees is particularly well-written. Good descriptions, too.
-----------------------------------
Title: Summer Call · Author: mitasova · Races: Men: Post-Sauron's Fall ·
ID: 772
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-26 03:45:02
Quite a poignant tale of Faramir's last day. The use of Boromir's
horn-call as a summons not so much to death as to Faramir's reunion with
his much missed loved ones is very effective.

I am not sure that Faramir would have such a low opinion of the
Hurinionath, including himself, in terms of their value to Gondor, as
these two sentences imply:

[Our King is just, his lady Queen wise and fair. We of Hurins line are
all but embroidery on their glorious standard.]


The relationship between Faramir and his grandson Barahir, and their
dialogue, is very well written here.
-----------------------------------